Study: Leaner nations bike, walk, use mass transit

[marmar]

from AP:



Study: Leaner nations bike, walk, use mass transit
By DUNCAN MANSFIELD – 12 hours ago


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jim Richards is no kid, but he loves to ride his bike. At 51, he has become a cycling commuter, pedaling 11 miles from his home in the suburbs to his job in downtown Knoxville.

"It really doesn't take that much longer" than driving, he insists.

And he gets 40 minutes of exercise twice a day without going to the gym, which he attributes to a 20-pound weight loss.

New research illustrates the health benefits of regular biking, walking or taking public transportation to work, school or shopping. Researchers found a link between "active transportation" and less obesity in 17 industrialized countries across Europe, North America and Australia.

"Countries with the highest levels of active transportation generally had the lowest obesity rates," authors David Bassett of the University of Tennessee and John Pucher of Rutgers University conclude.

Americans, with the highest rate of obesity, were the least likely to walk, cycle or take mass transit, according to the study in a recent issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. The study relied on each country's own travel and health data.

Only 12 percent use active transportation in the United States — 9 percent walk, 1 percent ride a bike and 2 percent take a bus or train — while a quarter to a third are obese, the study said.

By comparison, 67 percent of commuters in Latvia, 62 percent in Sweden and 52 percent in the Netherlands either walk, bike or use mass transit. Latvia's obesity rate is 14 percent, the Netherlands' is 11 percent and Sweden's is 9 percent. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jEGRAoOGYlh9C9ASr-_XyTiaVwnAD953669G0

[taterguy]

1. Much easier to commute in places like Latvia and Sweden, they don't have to deal with winter

[rucky]

6. That blows my lutefisk theory. n/t

[taterguy]

11. Sweden's an inland nation. There's no lutefisk there

[gula]

13. And just where did those countries move to?

[taterguy]

14. Try suggesting to people on this site that they should ride bikes

The fact that it's too cold is one of many excuses you'll hear.

[Zywiec]

2. I guess those lean nations are also genetically different from us

with those low obesity rates.

:shrug:

[spinbaby]

3. Doubt it

I'm visiting Germany now. Germans have thrifty genes that tend toward fat--I'm of German ancestry, believe me, I know. I've notice that, although there are a lot of plump people here, you just don't see the extreme flab and lack of fitness you see in the states. That's because everyone is bundled up and walking to where they're going. Also, the food here isn't as universally sweet and mushy like in the states--you don't consume sugar unless you're having candy or a cookie.

The more I visit places like Germany and Japan, the more I think there's something extremely dysfunctional about our lifestyle in the states.

[marmar]

4. Agreed.....It's not like French food is low-calorie, and low fat....yet you don't see....

.... a great deal of obesity. The lifestyle is so much less sedentary.

[Karenina]

12. Will you pass through NRW?

PM me! :hi:

[enid602]

5. parrilla

I live in Buenos Aires, which has good public transit, and enjoys high ridership. Unfortunately, the people eat way too much beef, and I would say that obesity rates must be pretty similar to those in the US.

[underpants]

7. Eat less. Move more

not complicated

[moondust]

8. Oh yeah.

Next time you're in Europe make a point to look around for obesity. It exists but nothing like in the U.S.

[HughBeaumont]

9. But where's the MONEY in that?

How do I get rich offa such a soshulist layout?

How does helping people benefit ME???

Whut about all that tax I would have to pay to help others? What about ME ME ME????

See, this is the inherent difference between the "Yew-Ess" and "Yerr-up". There aren't a handful of people who go out of their way to make life eternally miserable for the remaining 95% while controlling a giant portion of the wealth. They value "WE", not "ME", which in turn benefits everyone.

[taterguy]

10. What's interesting about the article is that it talks about how bike friendly Knoxville TN is

Most people think that being able to use something other than a car for transportation means having to live in a large metropolitan area.

Obviously that doesn't have to be the case.

[gratuitous]

15. I find myself in a very similar situation to the guy in the article

I'm 50 and began biking to work about three years ago, got intentional about it at the beginning of last year. I began doing about 7½ miles to work and home one day a week. I now do a 12 mile commute morning and evening at least three days a week, and have lost about 30 pounds. I won't say I'm in the best shape of my life, but I'm definitely fitter at 50 than I was at 45.

[taterguy]

16. Congratulations!

I guess what confuses me is whether or not reliance on cars is based on physical reality or mentality.

I suspect it's a combination of the two.